The countdown is over, the 2023 Rugby World Cup has lastly arrived and we have been handled to an absolute spectacle throughout the opening weekend.
The motion continues from Thursday, when hosts France tackle Uruguay, earlier than New Zealand face Namibia the next day; in the meantime, Tonga and Samoa start their World Cup campaigns in opposition to Eire and Chile respectively. Learn forward for crew lists and previews.
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Leap forward to a selected sport.
Thursday, September 14
France vs. Uruguay, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille (9p.m. native / 5am AEST / 8pm GMT)
France: Melvyn Jaminet, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Arthur Vincent, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villiere, Antoine Hastoy, Maxime Lucu; Anthony Jelonch (captain), Sekou Macalou, Paul Boudehent, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Dorian Aldegheri, Pierre Bourgarit, Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Bastien Chalureau, Thibaud Flament, François Cros, Baptiste Couilloud, Thomas Ramos.
Uruguay: Baltazar Amaya, Bautista Basso, Tomas Inciarte, Andres Vilaseca (captain), Nicolas Freitas, Felipe Etcheverry, Santiago Arata, Manuel Diana, Santiago Civetta, Manuel Ardao, Manuel Leindekar, Felipe Aliaga, Ignacio Peculo, Guillermo Pujadas, Mateo Sanguinetti.
Replacements: Felipe Berchesi, Agustin Ormaechea, Carlos Deus, Lucas Bianchi, Ignacio Dotti, Reinaldo Piussi, Matias Benitez, Facundo Gattas.
Verdict: This shall be a stroll within the park for France, in contrast with their opening project, which completed in a convincing 26-13 victory over the All Blacks. That was all the time going to be the toughest sport of the hosts’ Pool A run, with the subsequent two outings in opposition to Uruguay and Namibia affording Les Bleus the chance to finetune their sport plan for the sterner take a look at of Italy.
Coach Fabien Galthie has taken the possibility to relaxation a few of his frontline begins after the bruising encounter in opposition to New Zealand, with skipper Antoine Dupont, Matthieu Jalibert, Gregory Aldritt, Damian Penaud, Charles Ollivon, Uini Atonio and Gael Fickou all sitting this one out.
Uruguay will enter this sport contemporary having not been concerned in Week 1 motion; an upset victory is past them, however they are going to look to construct some kind of momentum, or, higher but, continuity, earlier than they play their efficient ‘last’ in opposition to Namibia in two weeks’ time. The South People can have taken coronary heart from neighbours’ Chile’s gutsy displaying in opposition to Japan final weekend, and the same effort by which they empty the tank will do the growing rugby nation proud.
Tip: France by 48.
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Friday, September 15
New Zealand vs. Namibia, Stadium de Toulouse (9p.m. native / 5a.m. AEST / 8p.m. GMT)
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (captain), Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett, Fletcher Newell, Ethan de Groot, Dane Coles.
Namibia: Cliven Loubser, Gerswin Mouton, Johan Deysel (captain), Le Roux Malan, Divan Rossouw, Tiaan Swanepoel, Damian Stevens, Richard Hardwick, Prince Gaoseb, Wian Conradie, Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief, Aranos Coetzee, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jason Benade.
Replacements: JC Greyling, Jacques Theron, Max Katjijeko, Adriaan Booysen, Pieter-Jan van Lil, Haitembu Shikufa, Desiderius Sethie, Louis van der Westhuizen.
Verdict: Sam Whitelock will be a part of Richie McCaw because the most-capped All Black of all time when he runs out for his 148th Check in Toulouse on Friday night time. The veteran lock, who’s enjoying at his last World Cup, is joined within the second-row by Brodie Retallick, who needed to expedite his return from harm when skipper Sam Cane was a late withdrawal in opposition to France final week.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has in any other case made a raft of modifications to the beginning crew that confronted France, with solely Beauden Barrett, stand-in skipper Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Lienert-Brown and and Whitelock retained from the crew overwhelmed 26-13 by Les Bleus.
New Zealand can have little hassle accounting for Namibia, with outdoors backs Leicester Fainga’anuku and Caleb Clarke set to run riot in opposition to the Africans, who kicked off their marketing campaign with a 52-8 loss to Italy. The All Blacks are a category up on Italy once more, so this may very well be an extended night time for Namibia, whom New Zealand beat 71-9 in Japan 4 years in the past. The ton may very well be in peril right here.
Tip: All Blacks by 80.
Saturday, September 16
Samoa vs. Chile, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (3p.m. native / 11p.m. AEST / 2p.m. GMT)
Samoa:
Chile:
Verdict:
Tip:
Wales vs. Portugal, Stade de Good, Good (5:45p.m. native / 1:45a.m. AEST / 4:45pm GMT)
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees Zammit, Mason Grady, Johnny Williams, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Dan Lydiate, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Dillon Lewis, Dewi Lake (captain), Nicky Smith.
Replacements: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Taine Basham, Adam Beard, Tomas Francis, Corey Domachowski, Ryan Elias.
Portugal:
Verdict: Wales have modified 13 from the crew that secured a gap spherical win over Fiji on the weekend however Warren Gatland’s aspect usually are not underestimating the specter of Portugal.
They’re anticipating Patrice Lagisquet’s aspect to play a equally expansive sport to the one they confronted on the weekend however as a result of six-day turnaround, Gatland has opted to cut and alter the crew. Gareth Anscombe is again at fly-half for Wales as he completes a exceptional return to the crew after he missed the World Cup 4 years in the past with a horrific leg harm. Elsewhere Gatland has gone for the all-Exeter pairing of Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza whereas Dewi Lake captains the crew.
“I acknowledged beforehand ‘do not write us off’, that this crew is able to doing one thing particular and I nonetheless consider that,” Gatland stated.
“A part of the important thing themes and key message earlier than this World Cup was be certain we’re a bloody laborious crew to beat and if we’re a tough crew to beat, then issues can occur for you.”
Tip: Wales ought to win this by 40 or so factors.
Eire vs. Tonga, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (9p.m. native / 5a.m. AEST/ 8p.m. GMT)
Eire:
Tonga:
Verdict:
Tip:
POOL A PREVIEW | POOL B PREVIEW | POOL C PREVIEW | POOL D PREVIEW
Sunday, September 17
South Africa vs. Romania, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (3p.m. native / 11p.m. AEST / 2p.m. UK)
South Africa: Willie Le Roux, Grant Williams, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach, Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Marvin Orie, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Mbongeni Mbonambi (captain), Ox Nche.
Replacements: Jesse Kriel, Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Jasper Wiese, RG Snyman, Trevor Nyakane, Steven Kitshoff, Deon Fourie.
Romania:
Verdict: The Springboks have made 14 modifications to the crew with solely Damian Willemse conserving his spot, however he shifts from fullback to fly-half. It is a take a look at of what Jacques Nienaber’s constructed his squad on: versatility. There are (remarkably) 4 scrum-halves on this group with Grant Williams on the wing, Cobus Reinach at scrum-half, Jaden Hendrikse on the bench and Faf de Klerk – normally a No.9 – masking fly-half.
“I am not being disrespectful to Romania however it’s a chance to attempt him [De Klerk] out in a take a look at match beneath stress at 10. He is educated there for us quite a few instances,” Nienaber stated.
“We have stated Faf is our third-choice fly-half however it is a good alternative to offer him a run at 10, controlling the sport at 10 at test-match degree.”
The Boks have been rocked by Malcolm Marx’s harm however they have not known as up a substitute but, with Deon Fourie – normally a back-row – offering cowl there from the bench. However the Boks are aiming to get the job carried out, with out considering of what is to come back.
“If we in any approach consider additional video games within the competitors, it is going to be disrespectful to the gamers that we chosen to play for South Africa and it is going to be disrespectful to the opponents,” Nienaber stated.
“It isn’t a danger for us. It’s nicely calculated. We’re comfy with what we noticed in coaching. We consider that the fellows are ok in these place to beat the opposition.”
Tip: Boks by 50.
Australia vs. Fiji, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne (5:45p.m. native / 1:45a.m. / 4:45p.m. UK)
Australia:
Fiji:
Verdict:
Tip:
England vs. Japan, Stade de Good, Good (9p.m. native / 5a.m. AEST / 8p.m. GMT)
England:
Japan:
Verdict:
Tip: